March
16Celebrating Kirk
So Kirk Douglas strolled off stage Saturday night, weary but triumphant, having completed a remarkable four-night stand. His one-man play, “Before I Forget,” was pure Kirk: An act of courage and also self-celebration. It all happened, appropriately, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The shrine of “Kirkatude.”The performance was at once entertaining and poignant. At age 92, having survived a stroke which had deprived him of clarity of speech, Kirk has a right to celebrate his achievements: Movie star of (87 films), author (nine books starting with “The Ragman’s Son”) the recipient of a panoply of awards and philanthropic milestones.
But as his play reflects, Kirk still struggles along a familiar emotional obstacle course: He never felt he’d won his father’s approval, or had demonstrated enough approval of his four sons. He’s still awed by the courage of his parents, tough Russian Jewish peasants who settled in, but never quite assimilated, their new homeland. And Kirk never quite forgave himself for the death of his son, Eric, from a drug overdose.
But he remains the stalwart role-player – the fierce boxer in “Champion,” the crazed painter in “Lust for Life,” and most of all the fervent battler for liberal causes who created break-through films like “Lonely Are the Brave,” or “Spartacus” and broke the black list on behalf of Dalton Trumbo. Even in his 90’s Kirk, the warrior still has to test himself and prove his mettle.
The man who gave us “Seven Days in May” has also, in his third act, managed to give us four amazing nights in March.
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Kirk Douglas is a one of a kind, fighting treasure. There is no 'Kirk Douglas type', nor will there ever be.
Hail Spartacus!
Posted by: Arye Michael Bender | 3/23/2009 2:25:09 PM
He never made publicity campaign for himself on the issues, which is probably why so many people haven't a clue as to his record.
Posted by: MLF | 3/18/2009 8:51:27 PM